Free Web NovelChapter 1152: Chapter 1087: Föhn Wind (Part 2) (Double-Length Chapter)
The sky, unbeknownst to anyone, had been dyed orange-red, with dry flames swept by the scorching wind, licking the mountainsides on both sides.
Thick smoke danced on the weeds and brambles, licking the sparse trees on the mountainsides.
Rabbits and field mice hidden within the mountains frantically darted out from their burrows, fleeing in all directions in panic, skillfully dodging horse hooves and scattering among the cliffs.
The crackling sound of burning came with the wind, like a Giant Dragon gnashing its teeth.
The scorching heat waves hit the knights’ faces, like the heavenly fire descending on judgment day.
Smoke, fire sea, black ash butterfly rain fell on everyone’s shoulders.
"How did the fire burn all the way here?" Tom’s voice was choked with emotion, his teeth trembling.
"We’ve been deceived." Kennard looked at the fire, his expression hard to discern whether heavy or angry.
From the beginning, they must have been tricked. The wildfire couldn’t have spread this fast.
Even if it had started burning, it would have taken time for the fire to reach them; he should have noticed earlier.
The reason they only became alert when the fire was upon them was mainly because they had been deceived by the initial house burning.
Kennard mistook the early smoke from the wildfire as lingering smoke from the burning houses.
At that time, it’s likely that the enemy had already arranged the stacks of wood and oil, beginning to ignite the mountains.
Watching the rapidly approaching fire line, the warhorses whinnied, and the knights on their backs continuously retreated.
Kennard turned to look towards the slope below, realizing why Jeanne didn’t form a line in the narrow valley but chose to do so on the plains.
Firstly, to use the stream water and trenches as natural firebreaks.
Secondly, to trap Kennard and the cavalry on this hilltop, in the valley about to be devoured by fire.
There’s no need to think further; this must be the Defensive Army of Longbow Castle.
As for how they got here, just think about the rabble from Wonyu City burning houses earlier.
These Defensive Army soldiers probably used the rabble from Wonyu City as cover.
Not only did they deceive the eyes around Longbow Castle with a big survey movement, but also hid their own tracks with troops from Wonyu City.
Wonyu City cannot defeat the Leia Kingdom Army, so Jeanne must strike first.
Against the Vanguard Army from Wonyu, Jeanne can guarantee an undefeated hold with an equivalent number and thus must fake weakness.
If it were the Holy Alliance Army, the inner-city defenders would never emerge.
So in the eyes of the Leia Army, what is incapable? It must be local troops and Mercenaries.
Thus, they must disguise; they must mix in soldiers from Wonyu City, pretending to be small elite units.
After luring out the elite cavalry of Sk Wolf Castle, the house burning was a smokescreen, the real lethal move was the Count, the wildfire, and the scorching wind.
Cheers erupted from behind the carriage formation, and Kennard looked up to see Jeanne standing atop the chariot, raising the black-red flag of the Holy Alliance high.
The flag pointed towards the sky, inviting battle in Kennard’s direction. freewebnoveℓ.com
Sunlight pierced through the thick smoke and shone on her, akin to an Angel descending in a religious painting.
The wind in the valley grew increasingly hot, carrying sparks past Kennard’s temples and jawline.
Several knights had already attempted to charge back through the valley, but now they had returned.
Their faces were blackened, their facial hair singed and curled up, eyes bloodshot.
Some urgently dismounted, removing their shoulder armor to reveal burned skin.
They poured all the water from their flasks over themselves, instantly forming a series of pus-filled blisters.
"Is there a way out behind?"
"No," Tom replied, covered in dirt and looking defeated, "the fire is too fast, and the wind is blowing directly towards us; we can’t get through."
"So there’s only one way then?"
Kennard didn’t wait for Tom to answer, urging his horse to the frontmost side, looking down at the well-prepared Defensive Army of Longbow Castle.
After Leia’s defeat, he had meticulously studied the relevant battle reports of the Holy Alliance.
He knew all too well the strength of the Holy Alliance soldiers, and the cunning of their commanders.
Yet he still fell for it, caught off guard.
He watched the agitated discussions of the knights, listened to the crackling sound of wood in the fire, his lips pressed into a tight line beneath his iron helm.
"Tom, take a hundred men and charge once." Kennard gazed far into the eyes of the Holy Alliance commander, "Watch the gaps in their carriage formations, find a weak spot and break through."
Tom straightened his back, his iron gauntlet struck heavily against his breastplate: "Yes!"
He mounted a black horse, his lance pointing directly at the carriage formation: "Break the formation or we won’t live, those daring follow me in the charge!" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Over a hundred knights responded, gathering into ten rows in a wedge formation, flowing down like an iron cascade, rushing directly towards the dam formed by the carriage formation.
This time, having learned from prior mistakes and suffered beatings from their instructors, the gunners behind the carriage formation had become familiar with the battlefield environment.
No longer panicked, they gradually found their rhythm, firing the first round, second round, third round, almost all at the most precise distances.
Though some still closed their eyes when firing or shook when pulling the trigger causing bullets to fly into the sky, it was far better than before.
After three rounds of shooting, due to the narrow slope, at least twenty knights were injured or fell from their horses.
Tom led the charge, nearly reaching the front of the carriage formation.
The first Hus carriage suddenly opened its side panels, revealing the dark cannon mouths behind.
Those were four 6-pound spring-loaded cannons.
"Spring-loaded cannon?!" Tom’s shout was caught in his throat, "Ayoh, I..."
